Everett district to consider adding another high school

Students filter into the expanded part of the lunchroom at Jackson High School on Thursday.

Mark Mulligan / The Herald

Students filter into the original half of the lunchroom at Jackson High School on Thursday during the second lunch period of the day. Jackson expanded the space three years ago into an existing courtyard. This year's freshman class is the largest ever at Jackson.

EVERETT -- High school enrollment in Everett School District high schools is expected to grow by more than 650 students over the next nine years.That means about 27 new high school classrooms are needed in the central and southern end of the school district. School officials have scheduled two meetings next week to hear from the public on whether to build a new high school or instead construct additions to existing schools.If another high school is built, it would be the fifth in the Everett district. Right now the high schools are Everett, Cascade, Jackson and Sequoia, the alternative school.The meetings are scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 11 at the Evergreen Middle School cafeteria and from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 12 at the Henry M. Jackson High School annex."We hope that people will come," said Mary Waggoner, Everett School District spokeswoman. "Even if they have elementary students, this will impact all the students as they move through the district."The suggestions from the public will help the school board as it considers the school district's upcoming building needs, she said.The school board is considering the additional high school classrooms and other construction projects to include in a bond issue expected to go to voters in February. The school board is expected to approve the final list of construction projects in November.Jeff Russell, school board president, said if a new high school is built, it would be a "small" high school.The school district considers 1,500 students just about the right size for a high school. Jackson has more than 2,000 students, meaning it's at or above capacity, If the addition were added only at Jackson, it would push its enrollment to at least 2,700 students.So some of the options under consideration are building a new, smaller high school or converting a middle school into a high school and building a new middle school, Russell said.The school board also is expected to discuss building an additional elementary school in the southern portion of the school district, he said.Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486; salyer@heraldnet.com.Public meetingsTwo public meetings are scheduled to discuss the Everett School District's high school building needs: from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 11 in the Evergreen Middle School cafeteria, 7621 Beverly Lane, Everett, and from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 12 at the Henry M. Jackson High School annex, 1508 136th St. SE, Mill Creek.

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